DoD

Spotlight Shines on Sports Programmers during Winter Olympics

Defense Department photo/

Steve McGill
Sports Programming Specialist, Willie Price (left), and Chief, Sports Programming, Corey Slutsky, American Forces Network Broadcast Center, each scheduled more than 500 hours of Winter Olympics TV coverage for American military personnel serving overseas. They work from their AFN-BC offices located at March Air Reserve Base, Calif.

Two sports programmers for the American Forces Network Broadcast Center, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., scheduled hundreds of hours of Winter Olympic coverage for one-million U.S. service members and their families serving overseas. You’d think they’d be kicking back a bit. But that’s not the way the ball rolls.

Corey Slutsky and Willie Price continue to research, plan and select sports programming. They work closely with AFN Industry Liaison, Andy Scott, who acquires the rights to air sporting events. American broadcasters provide AFN the rights to air hundreds of millions of dollars sports on gratis terms because of their support and appreciation for America’s service members.

Slutsky and Price have what many fans would call a dream gig. “My family all say this is the perfect job for me,” said Price. “I’ve played all kinds of sports. All I watch on TV is sports!” Price, a former Sailor, served overseas, so he relates to the military audience.

Take a look at Price’s cubicle and you’ll quickly see his favorite teams. A mix of Bobble-head San Diego Padres figures, Charger football posters and Clippers banners fill every inch of work space.

Slutsky is a Detroit Lions fan, but you won’t see lots of Lions games on AFN because of him. “We have no favorites and no bias,” said Slutsky. “Every week we look at what sports are available, what the major networks are airing and whether we have broadcast a game from the team. We air games from every team in every major professional sport every year. “

Slutsky has a Master’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management and Communications and has worked as an on-air host, producer, writer and director and public relations person for commercial radio and TV stations, the Detroit Shock (WNBA) and Toledo Mud Hens (minor league baseball).

Local Military Discounts

Pentagon Channel

March Field offers mental health services through Elaine Valentine, 452nd Air Mobility Wing, director of psychological health and a licensed clinical social worker with more than 15 years of experience in the mental health care...

Courtesy photo Pamela Hann, March Base Civil Engineer, surveys a consturction project at March Air Reserve Base, California. Hann became the first female BCE in Air Force Reserve Command on May 15, 2005, and is responsible for ...

(Final in a 4-part series) The National Women’s History Project’s 2015 theme is “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.” In this ongoing series, we highlight individual women who made a difference in the fabric or our ...

Courtesy of Evan Money (First in a three-part series chronicling Angela Alexander’s incredible story which led to a book, a ministry and now, a documentary.) MIRACLE: “An unusual or wonderful event that is believed to be ca...

U.S. Air Force art by Master Sgt. Elizabeth Concepcion/Released Digital painting created in Adobe Photoshop. This artwork was created to depict the US Army occupation in Vietnam and was inspired by the story of a Vietnam war ve...

Photo: Air ForceNinth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Binnicker died on March 21. Former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Binnicker, who was the service’s top enlisted man from 1986 to 1990, passed away in Ca...

Information

Publisher

The Beacon is published by Aerotech News and Review. Aerotech is a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with the 452nd Air Mobility Wing. This civilian enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for employees and members of U.S. military services, retirees and family members. Contents are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the DoD or the Department of the Air Force.

Disclaimer

The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services by the DoD, the Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and Review, Inc.
Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the staff of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs office at March Air Reserve Base. All photographs in the Beacon are Air Force photos unless otherwise stated.